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If you’ve read my book, 7 Money Rules for Life, you know that Rule #1 is so simple it would be easy to overlook it as being too elementary. Here it is: Spend less than you earn.

Now think about it … “spend less than you earn” is not the same as “don’t spend more than you earn.” That implies it would be okay to spend all that you earn, but no. The operative word is “less.” You need a gap between what you earn and how much of it you spend. That is the fundamental secret to living below your means.

It’s in that gap that financial freedom can grow. You really need to read the rest of the book, but for now, let’s just say that growing the gap is the challenge.

Here’s an easy way to increase your gap this week even if only by a few dollars, because it all adds up: Make your own bread. Wait! Hear me out. I want to show you how to make homemade bread that is so amazing, so simple and so foolproof you’ll be tempted to call it Einstein Bread because it’s going to make you feel like a genius.

Actually, this is English Muffin bread and trust me, toasted with butter and jam, this is pure heaven. So much better than commercial English Muffins (a package of six Thomas English Muffins is $4.29 or $.72 each at my local supermarket) and way cheaper.

This recipe makes the equivalent of 24 English muffins for about $3 total or $.13 each, depending on how you purchase the ingredients … I buy flour and yeast in bulk). It makes awesome grilled cheese sandwiches, too.

Hi, I’m Mary!

I believe that you can live below your means where you are consistently spending less than you earn, so you have enough money to save, give and live! The secret is to get clever and creative with how to save time and money every day!

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